fixing cab corners with bondo

[n3wt0n]

Hey everybody!

I picked up a tube of pre-mixed bondo the other day to fix a cab corner before re-cutting the t-molding slot and paint it. I thought it was the same as the stuff that you mix yourself and that I would just save myself some time. Also, I didn't need very much. It seemed perfect.  BUT.... I put it on yesterday afternoon and expected it to take a few hours to dry. I put it on about 1/4" thick (in a room temp environment, not out in the cold) and expected I would need to put on a few coats to get it to the point where I could shape it back into a proper corner shape. Well, fast forward 18 hours and it still hasn't hardened. I can still push on it with my finger and dent it. The thin coats I put on a couple small dings seems to be fine though.

So, is this stuff the same as the stuff in the can that you mix yourself or is the can of bondo better stuff for a job like this? Is this type of drying time normal or would it be shorter if I picked up the stuff in the can? I would really like to get the corners reshaped but this is too long for my timeline. At this rate it would take weeks to dry. I need to paint this weekend.

Can someone with experience tell me how long it should take for something like this to dry?

Thanks,
n3wt0n

[yotsuya]

The stuff in the tube is for pinholes and scratches.

[eds1275]

It is indeed for pinholes. Did you knead the tube first? I can't imagine it not drying after all that time, mine usually starts to harden before I'm even done working with it!

[n3wt0n]

The stuff in the tube is for pinholes and scratches.

So I guess I should have bought Bondo Auto Body Filler instead of Bondo Glaze and Spot Putty. I can get some of that today.

It is indeed for pinholes. Did you knead the tube first? I can't imagine it not drying after all that time, mine usually starts to harden before I'm even done working with it!

The thin stuff dried within a couple hours to the point I could have sanded/painted it but I'm not sure the thicker application would have ever dried. Have you ever put it on in a thick application? What is the drying time like when doing that?

[eds1275]

To be honest I fight with bondo more than I should. If you do a thick application in my experience the outside dries but the inside stays tacky.

[taylormadelv]

Ahh, rebuilding corners on cabinets! I prefer Elmers Woodfiller myself, for many reasons I won't get into again here. When using woodfiller to rebuild relatively large areas, I will only apply about a 1/2" at a time and allow that part to dry overnight. The I will apply another layer about 1/2" and allow that to dry and so on...
Eventually, I will get a big enough surface to work back down into a cabinet corner and use wet/dry sandpaper to shape it. The white woodfiller can be shaped as good as bondo if you use wet/dry sandpaper.

[yotsuya]

Ahh, rebuilding corners on cabinets! I prefer Elmers Woodfiller myself, for many reasons I won't get into again here. When using woodfiller to rebuild relatively large areas, I will only apply about a 1/2" at a time and allow that part to dry overnight. The I will apply another layer about 1/2" and allow that to dry and so on...
Eventually, I will get a big enough surface to work back down into a cabinet corner and use wet/dry sandpaper to shape it. The white woodfiller can be shaped as good as bondo if you use wet/dry sandpaper.

Plus one, two, and three on the Elmers Woodfiller. Once it's dry, sanded, and painted, it's solid.

[n3wt0n]

that's pretty cool about the Elmers wood filler. I used some wood filler on other smaller damaged parts of the cabinet but I questioned its ability to withstand the t-molding slot cutter. I had heard of bondo holding up well so I went that route. I think I should finish with the bondo now that I already have some on the corner. Hopefully the not-so-dry stuff I scraped off earlier has allowed the area underneath to harden. This is getting messy. 

[taylormadelv]

You can cut t molding slots in cured woodfiller. I used making tape along the edge to hold the woodfiller in (just like avoiding tearouts) and the slot cut perfect!

[RandyT]

Another big plus for wood filler is that it is usually formulated to have a similar density to wood.  If you use something harder, then it will be nearly impossible to sand to a seamless appearance, as material removal surrounding the repair will be greater. 

[n3wt0n]

I grabbed some of the correct Bondo from the store on my way home tonight and within 2 hours I had put two layers on. There was no doubt in my mind that it was going to work better than the stuff I bought the first time. It was setting up before I was done with a golfball sized amount. Its going to be enough to get the job done. I will sand in the morning, then cut t molding slots and then start paint. Hopefully I can get all 3 done tomorrow. Then I will be done with the cab until its time to do the artwork.

Thanks for all the wood filler info. I will probably go that route next time especially if its cold outside. I brought the cab in the house to bondo and paint (not sand) and it really stunk the place up - more than I was expecting.